Mixing valve



March 18, 1941.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I HHUHU wir'.

a/ ATTORNEYS Marchrl, 1941. F SLEZAK 2,235,651

MIXING VALVE Filed D90. 21, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NIINVENTORNR; Frmd (YI/Z w 1mm www ma@ WMN m Patented Mar. 18, 1941 MIXING VALVE v Frank Slezak, Maspeth, Long Island, N. Y., as-

signor to Thermo-Mix, Inc., a corporation of New York Application December 21, 1937, Serial No. 180,923

Claims.

s invention relates to a mixing valve and is more particularly directed to a'valve for con- 'trollably mixing two iluids of different tempera.-

tures to produce automatically a mixture of said iluids at a predetermined or desired temperature.

accordingly, an object of my invention is the provision of an improved mixing valve.

other object of my invention is the provision oi" a mixing valve which is easily controlled and which `will readily respond to temperature changes of the mixed iluid.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a mixing valve which will be substantially unadected by changes in pressure of u the iluid to be inbred.

.it lurther object of my invention is the provision oi a mining valve which, tor the same capacity, is lighter in weight than those heretoi'ore lrnown to the art.

it. more specific object of my invention is the provision oi a mixing valve formed of a relatively small number oi parts resulting in ease oi op eration and construction and facility of assembly.

'.t'hese and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of oneembodiment and a modihcation thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side view of my improved valve device, the valve and casing being shown in crosssection along the line l-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a iront view of my valve construction with the cover and control handle removed;

lig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line Hl-UI of Fig. l;

lilllg. t is a cross-sectional view of alparticular part of the valve construction taken along the line ltl--lV oi Fig. l;

llig. 5 is a cross'sectiona1 view similar to Fig. l illustrating a modified form of valve;

Fig. 6 is a front view oi" the valve shown in Fig. 5; and.

llig. 'l is a cross-sectional view taken along the line lill-V11 of Fig. 5.

ils illustrated in Figs. l to 4 inclusive, my valve generally indicated at l0, is formed of a surrounding casing l2 of generally hollow cylindrical shape open at one side. The casing l2 has preferably formed integrally therewith a base member t4. A cover i6 is used to close the open side ci the cylindrical casing and may be attached thereto by suitable means such as screws it. lli desired, an annular ring or gasket of packing material may be inserted between the cover it and the main casing body i2.

The base member I4 of the casing t2 ls provided with a pair of conduits adapted to be connected to the water or other iiuid 'to be mixed. @ne of such conduits, which may be the cold water conduit, is indicated at 22 in Fig. l. Fluid passing from this conduit is adapted to flow up- 1 wardly through the passage 2l through a combined check valve and strainer shown at 26. This combined check valve and strainer not only prevent impurities from passing into the valve proper and thereby affecting its operation, but in addition prevents the mixed water from nowing under certain conditions of pressure imbalance back into the supply conduit. While li have indicated that such a combined strainer and check valve or either of these elements may be provided in both oi the supply conduits, it is to be understood that this device is not essential to the operation of hay improved valve and forms no part of my actual invention.

ltrom the other conduit (not shown) iluid will pass through the other combined checlr valve and strainer and into the passage lit.

The main operating parte oit the valve are situated within the housing tt of generally cylindrical shape which may be made from a single casting.,` rthe housing it is adapted to rest upon the base portion it of the casing it. li desired, suitable packing or gaslret means tt may be interposed` between. 'The housing tri is held in place atfcne side by a projecting portion 3H inte gral with the casing i2 which engages an underlying projecting portion St of the housing. At the other side a projecting lip 4t is provided integral with the housing 3ft and s rigidly attached to the base member it by suitable means such as `a screw t2. yl'he housing t4 is provided with a pair of parallel semi-annular channels llt and t6 open at the bottom and communicating with corresponding passages it and 3B in the base member it through openings 23 and 3l.

its isbest illustrated in liig. t, the channel t4 terminates in two openings tt and til, while the channel 4B terminates in two openings b2 and 54. Positioned centrally within the housing 34 is a cylindrical member 56 which may preferably be pressed-ht therein. lihe member bb is provided with slits 58, tt, iii and tt which cooperate respectively with openings tt, bil, 52 and 5t to perinit passage of iluid within the central portion of the housing. The slits 5d, tt, t2 and til are substantially smaller in width than the corresponding openings t8, $0, E2 and t4. i

For controlling the how of huid throughL the aforesaid slots, a vane t6 is provided. This vane is mounted in a suitable manner to rotate with a shaft E8 which may be joui-nailed in suitable bearings formed with the end members of the y housing 'l0 and l2. buch end members are at tached to the housing 34 in any suitable manner illustrated, as by screws lll and t6. .llt each end oi the shaft t8 there may be attached lever arms shown as "i8 and M. llhe mode of attachment is unimportant, but may be conveniently brought about by means ci a divided section sprung together by means oi.' a screw 82. The vane 66 does not touch the inner bushing 56, but is slightly spaced therefrom. I have found that a spacing of $5000 of an inch is satisfactory, but this dimension may be varied within small limits depending upon the materials used and the accuracy of control desired.

In order -to dampen the action of my control vane 66, anv upraised hollow portion 84 formed integrally with the housing 34, may be provided. Within this hollow portion a piston 88 of suitable design is positioned and loosely journalled at one end upon a shaft 88 which in turn is held in position between the upper ends of the levers 18 and 80. A small hole 90 is placed within the member 84 in order to provide a relatively small escape or entrance for the fluid confined by the piston.

The uid which flows into a central portion of the housing through the slots escapes into the main valve casing through openings 92 in the bushing 56 and an opening 94 in the housing 34. Fluid may also escape from the ends through openings 96 and 98 in the end members 12 and 10 respectively. By providing these openings in the side members only at the top thereof, a certain amount of pressure is produced by the incoming fluid below the control vane 66 which tends to dampen the action of the control vane and make it less responsive to sudden changes in the pre'fsure of the infiowing fluid. On the other hand, the fluid escaping from the opening in the top will impinge directly upon the bi-metallic control element |00, thus giving a control which is immediately responsive to temperature changes of the mixed iiuid. An outlet 99 in the casing I2 leads to a shower or other device using the controlled fluid.

For automatically controlling the temperature of the mixed uid, I preferably utilize a thermoresponsive device such as a bi-metallic element |00 positioned within the casing I2 and thus subject to the temperature of the mixture. The bi-metallic element |00 is pivoted at one end to the housing 34 by means of links |02 and |04 and at its other end to the lever arms 18 and 80 by means of links |06 and |08. Motion oi the thermostat and of the lever 18 is limited by means of stops ||0 and II2 preferably, but not necessarily formed integrally with the end member 12.

l Ihese stops will. as can readily be seen, therefore, limit the motion of the controlling vane 66.

The lever |02 connecting the bi-metallic element to the housing 34 is provided with a pin |I4 which engages a slot in a con-trolling cam H6; the position of this cam is in turn controlled by a handle H8. 'I'he latter may be provided with a pointer |20 to show the position of the lever. The handle I I8 may also have a cut-out portion |22 cooperating With a stop member |24 on the cover plate I6 to limit the controllable motion.

From the description set forth above, it will be seen that when used, for example, to mix and control hot and cold water to be supplied for a certain use as for example, a shower bath, the two fluids to be mixed will each pass through connecting conduits and channels up through the parallelly' positioned semi-annular channels 44 and 46 and, with the control vane in its middle position, into the cen-trai portion of the housing 84 out through the openings 92 and 94 and through outlet 99 to the shower or other device. The temperature desired is fixed by rotating the handle II8 and thus fixing the original position of the thermostatic element. If the temperature of the mixture so changes that the thermostatic element will expand or contract from the predetermined normal position, the control vane 66 will then be actuated in one direction or another to admit more or less hot or cold water. The action of the thermostatic element will be dampened by means of the piston 86 acting within. the hollow member 84. When this control device is used where extremely hot water is not desired as in shower baths, the vane 66 may be so positioned relative to the slits and stops that no matter what action of the control handle or thermostat may take place, the cold Water inlet will never be quite entirely closed. Scalding is prevented by means of such an arrangement.

Attention is directed to the fact, at this time, that while the dampening device indicated as 84, 86, 88 and 80 improves the operation of this valve, such device is not essential thereto and may be omitted if desired.

'I'he modiiied form of my invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and '7 differs only slightly from that previously described. In this case the valve is provided with three outlets vfrom each source of uid as contrasted with only two in the previous case. 'I'he valve illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is preferably used, where a larger capacity is desired.

The modied form of valve shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is generally indicated at 2I0. A casing 2|2 similar in all respects to the casing I2 previously described may be provided. 'I'he housing within which the main valve parts are adapted to rotate is, in this form of the invention preferably made of two pieces, 2I4 and 2 I6, rigidly attached to one another by suitable means such as screws 2'8. The combined housing is then fastened to the base portion 220 of the casing 2I2 by means such as screw 222 and at the rear engages a holding lug 223 oiY the said casing. The housing 2I4 is provided with two annular channels 224 and 226. The second member 2|6 forming part of the housing is made with channels 228 and 230 respectively cooperating with the annular channels 224 and 226. The annular channel 224 terminates in a plurality of openings 232, 234 and 236 while the annular channel 226 terminates in openings 238, 240 and 242. Within the central portion of the housing 2I4 a cylindrical bushing is inserted and may be press-fit therein. The bushing 244 is formed with a plurality of slits indicated at 246, 248, and 250 cooperating with the openings 232. 234 and 286 respectively, while slits 252, 254 and 256 respectively cooperate with openings 238, 240 and 242.

For controlling the flow of iluid through the slits into the central portion of the housing a three-armed control vane 258 is provided, rigidly attached to the shaft 259. 'I'he shaft 259 is held in position and journalled in end members 260 and 262 suitably attached to the housing 2|4, by means such as screws 264 and 266. The fluid which flows into the central portion of the housing and is mixed, flows out therefrom through openings 268 and 210 and impinges upon the bimetallic element 284 in the casing 2|2, from whence it will then .ow to any place desired. Openings 212 and 214 are also provided in the upper vportion of the end members 260 and 262 and the fluid within the central portion of the housing may also flow therethrough. As described above, by having openings in the side Vmembers only at the top thereof, the pressure formed within the central portion of the housing tends to balance the controlling vane and thus make it quite unresponsive to sudden changes in pressure oi the fluid source. Rigidly attached to each end oi the shaft 258 'in any suitable manner are arms 216 and 218. The arm 216 is lim.

4 15 and contraction of the thermostatic element will accordingly tend to move the levers 216 and 218 and thus the control vane 258. The setting of the thermostatic element can be brought about by means (not shown) but identical with that previously described with regard to the preferred type of valve structure.

l'I'he invention is not intended to be limited to the two forms shown which .are to be understood .as illustrative only and not as limiting, as various changes in construction and arrangement may be made, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. y

I claim: i 1. In a mixing valve having a mixing chamber, a thermo-responsive element therein responsive Vtothe temperature of the mixed uid and means for controlling the initial set of said thermoresponsive element, in combination, a housing in said mixing chamber having a pair of semi-circular conduits lying in -respectively parallel planes, each adapted to be connected to a source x ofl fluid to lbe mixed, said housing having a centralhollow opening about which said conduits extend, and at least one passage from each of said conduits directed inwardly toward said opening, a hollow cylindrical bushing inserted within y"said central hollow opening and having a `tight fit withnsaid housing, said bushing having slits cooperating with said passages, whereby said conduits communicate with said hollow opening through said respective passages and slits, a vane mounted for rotation within said central hollow opening for controlling the passage of fluid through said slits, means for rotating said vane by said thermo-responsive element, and means for permitting flow of the mixed fluid from said centralV hollow opening to said mixing chamber. 2. The combination according to claim 1 in which each of said parallel conduits extends at least 180 about said central hollow opening and has aninwardly directed passage near each end thereof, said bushing having slits cooperating with all of said passages. V 3. The combination according to claim 1 in 00 which 'each of said parallel conduits extends about said central hollow opening in the form or a hollow annulus and has three equally spaced inwardly directed passages, said bushing having slits cooperating with all of said passages. e5 4. The combination according to claim 1, in combination with dampening means positioned on said housing and connected to said vane for dampening the action thereof.

5. In combination, a hollow substantially cylin- 10 drical housing open at both ends and having a relatively fiat integral base portion extending longitudinally along the outer surface or one side of said cylindrical housing, the wail ot said cylindrical housing having a pair ot conduits therein lying in respectively parallel planes. spaced axially along the axis of the cylindrical housing, and extending at least 180 about the 5 axis of the cylindrical housing, conduits extending through said base member each respectively have communicating radialy directed passages 20.

for permitting flow of mixed iluid from the inner portion of said housing.

7. The combination according to calim 5 in which there are two inwardly directed passages Afrom each or said parallel conduits, the passages 25 from one conduit being diametricaliy opposed to one another, and circumferencially spaced from the passages leading from the other conduit, and slits in said bushing cooperating with said passages. f 30 8. The combination according to claim 5 in which there are three equally spaced passages leading from each of said conduits, the passages from one conduit being circumferentially spaced from the passages from the other conduit, slits 35 in said lbushing cooperating with siad passages, the controlling vane comprising a three arm spider. each arm being adapted to control the ilow of fluid from one slit fromA each conduit.

9. In a, mixing valve having a mixing chamber 4o and a thermofresponsive element therein responsive to the temperature of the mixed uid, in combination. a housing having a pair of conduits lyingin respectively parallel planes, each adapted to be connected to a source of iluid to be mixed, 45 said housing having a central opening about which said conduits extend, open at both ends for communication with said mixing chamber, and at least one passage from each of vsaid conduits directed inwardly toward said opening, a 50 vane mounted for rotation within said opening; for controlling the ilow of fluid from said pa'ssages. and means for rotating said vane by said thermo-responsive element.

10. In a mixing valve, in combination, an in- E.; tegral housing having a pair of conduits lying in respectively parallel planes. each adapted to be connected .to a source of fluid to be mixed. said housing having a central opening about which said conduits extend, and at least one passage ou from each of said conduits directed inwardly toward said opening, a vane mounted for rotation within said opening for controlling the ilow of l iluid from said said passages, a mixing chamber surrounding said housing and in communication with said central opening. a thermo-responsive element mounted in said mixing chamber and operatively connected with said vane and means for controlling the initial set of said thermo- 5 responsive element. 70

FRANK SLEZAK. 

